Document Detail


Advances in the use of biologic agents for the treatment of systemic vasculitis.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19077713     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Due to the well known toxicities of cyclophosphamide, substantial interest exists in finding other therapies to treat primary systemic vasculitis. Biologic agents have been proposed as an alternative to cyclophosphamide for these disorders because of their recent success in treating other rheumatic diseases. This article reviews the current state-of-the-art therapy with regards to the use of biologic agents as treatments for systemic vasculitis. RECENT FINDINGS: The greatest amount of experience with these agents for the treatment of systemic vasculitis is with antitumor necrosis factor agents, pooled intravenous immunoglobulin, and anti-B-cell therapies such as rituximab. Intravenous immunoglobulin is already a standard therapy for Kawasaki's disease, but should also be considered for the treatment of vasculitis associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies when standard therapies are either ineffective or contraindicated. Early experience with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors indicates that they may be effective for the treatment of Takayasu's arteritis, but their role in the treatment of other forms of vasculitis remains controversial. Early experience with rituximab for the treatment of several forms of vasculitis has been quite promising, but must be confirmed by ongoing randomized clinical trials. SUMMARY: Biologic agents represent the next evolution in treatment for the primary systemic vasculitides. Greater understanding of these diseases has allowed us to move further away from nonspecific, highly toxic therapies toward a more directed approach. As our experience with these agents increases, they will likely form the keystone of treatment in the near future.
Authors:
Sharon A Chung; Philip Seo
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Current opinion in rheumatology     Volume:  21     ISSN:  1531-6963     ISO Abbreviation:  Curr Opin Rheumatol     Publication Date:  2009 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-12-16     Completed Date:  2009-03-20     Revised Date:  2010-09-23    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9000851     Medline TA:  Curr Opin Rheumatol     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  3-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Division of Rheumatology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Antibodies, Monoclonal / pharmacology,  therapeutic use
Biological Products / pharmacology,  therapeutic use*
Clinical Trials as Topic / trends
Humans
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / pharmacology,  therapeutic use
Immunologic Factors / pharmacology,  therapeutic use
Immunosuppression / methods,  trends
Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology,  therapeutic use*
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / antagonists & inhibitors,  physiology
Vasculitis / drug therapy*,  immunology,  physiopathology
Grant Support
ID/Acronym/Agency:
1K23AR052820-01/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS; K23 AR052820-05/AR/NIAMS NIH HHS; KL2 RR024130-04/RR/NCRR NIH HHS
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antibodies, Monoclonal; 0/Biological Products; 0/Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; 0/Immunologic Factors; 0/Immunosuppressive Agents; 0/Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; 0/rituximab
Comments/Corrections

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